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Alabamas Abbie Stockard, a former Miss Alabama who became Miss America 2025, had plenty to celebrate over the July 4 weekend.
Stockards boyfriend, NBA player Walker Kessler, proposed to her during a holiday lake trip near Alexander City and she said yes.
Im sooo excited!!, Stockard told AL.com via a text message.
He proposed at Lake Martin, which is special to us both and both of our families were there to celebrate! The couple hasnt a specific wedding date, Stockard said, but they plan to be wed sometime next summer.
Stockard, 23, and Kessler, 24, met as college students at Auburn University and have been dating for a few years.
Stockard currently is a nursing student at Auburn she took time off from school during her reigns as Miss Alabama and Miss America and Kessler, who plays center, recently was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers from the Utah Jazz.
Both members of the happy couple announced the news July 5 on social media.
The greatest surprise!! Were getting married!!, Stockard said via Instagram and Facebook.
I get to marry Walker Kessler my best friend! Our story is truly one that only the Lord could have written.
So many things I once thought were coincidences were really His perfect plan unfolding, and our story is greater than anything I could have imagined.
Theres no one else Id rather spend the rest of my life with, doing life together and cheering each other on! Im so excited for all the big things God has in store for us and the adventure ahead, wherever He might lead us.
Best Fourth of July EVER." I give thanks to God I get to spend the rest of my life with you, Abbie, Kessler said via Instagram.
Heres to the future together.
I love you so much.
God is good, Stockard responded in a comment on his post.
I cant wait for forever with you.
Stockard and Kessler have a mutual admiration society, attending each others basketball games, pageants and other events as often as possible.
Kessler was present, for example, when Stockard was named Miss Alabama 2024 in Birmingham, and he celebrated her win afterward with family, friends and pageant representatives.
Although he couldnt attend the Miss America competition in January 2025 in Orlando, Fla., Kessler watched Stockards crowning moment via a livestream on his cellphone and his reaction, stunned and happy, was posted on social media and quickly went viral.
Oh, my God, it was so sweet, Stockard said during an interview on GMA3, an afternoon spinoff of Good Morning America.
So you know he played in Orlando the night of Miss America.
He was playing five minutes away from the theater, but he had told me he wouldnt be able to come because the game started 30 minutes before Miss America did.
And I didnt think he was coming because they usually hop on a plane after every game to go to the next city.
I saw this video, and the next thing you know, hes at the hotel after I was crowned, there to surprise me, Stockard continued.
And it was just the sweetest thing ever.
..
It was such a fate thing.
Like, what are the odds? He plays over 80 games, and the one time hes in Orlando, its the same night Im crowned Miss America.
You cant make that up.
In February 2025, Stockard, a former Tiger Paws dancer at Auburn, appeared with the Utah Jazz Dancers at an NBA game as Kessler and the Jazz faced the Orlando Magic.
Stockard wore her Miss America crown and sash during her performance with the teams dancers.
In June 2026, Kessler was in the house at Samford Universitys Wright Center when Stockard emceed the finals of the most recent Miss Alabama pageant in Birmingham.
Stockard hasnt discussed a site for the ceremony next year or her preferences in wedding gowns.
However, she should have no trouble picking out the perfect dress for her big day.
She was featured as the cover model for the 25th anniversary edition of Alabama Weddings magazine in January, posing for photos in a dress and veil from The White Room bridal salon in Birmingham.
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